"A guilty man set free on the account of another, is that justice? No that’s grace" Caleb & Sol

07 December 2014

CHRISTMAS MOMENT [PART 1]

Luke
1:39-47

Christmas is a wonderful
time of blessing for most people………..especially us Christians! Why? Christmas reminds us of God’s goodness in our
lives, because He sent His Son to save our wretched soul out of the blackness
of sin. Christmas is a
time to reflect and give thanks to a holy God who loved us and gave us the
greatest gift ever given………HIMSELF! A gift that
only God could give worthy of all acceptance and praise for sinners like us. Christmas time
displays and speaks volumes of Christ……whether the Atheist likes it or not. Christmas is a
time that reminds us and always points us to Christ ad His redeeming love. Christmas is
all Christ…..it’s all about birth of Christ! It’s a time
that we shouldn't take lightly because without this divine historical birth we
are still in our sins facing condemnation from a holy God. Though, we may
not know the actual date of his birth and all the stories we read about
paganism that surrounds Christmas! One thing for
sure….. the birth of Christ is a vital doctrine to the Christian faith. Sadly
our culture is
trying very hard to stop us from celebrating the virgin birth of our Lord
through the Christmas season….with a “Humbug”
attitude towards anything Christian. How? Everything from
removal of Christmas trees, to singing of carols in government buildings, to
schools and public places. This generation
is trying desperately to literally replace the term “Merry Christmas” with
“Happy Holidays”. This generation
is trying to re-name our traditional Christmas tree as the “holiday tree.” They’re trying
to take out the baby from the manger scenes. Sadly, the
world doesn’t want to remember that day some 2000 plus years ago; but there is
no escaping this truth of the supernatural work of God in the virgin birth. When we read in
scripture about the coming Messiah found in the Old Testament and that He will
come from a virgin young lady………..What comes to your mind? We read these passages
in our casual reading, but do we really sit down and ponder what truly
happened. We really need
to stop and understand the significance about this blessed event in History. My question for
you this morning is…………What does the virgin birth mean to you? This supernatural
historical event is so vital, that it’s mentioned throughout the scriptures. Moses penned
these words “.....will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your
seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His
heel." Gen 3:15. Isaiah penned
these words some 700 years before Christ was born "Therefore the Lord
Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son,
and shall call His name Immanuel."Isa 7:14. Jeremiah said “How
long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing
on the earth: a woman encircles a man." Jer 31:22. In the New Testamentwe continue
to read passages like…“and
she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus..." Matt
1:21. The apostle
Paul said "God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law”
Gal 4:4. The virgin birth is non-negotiable doctrinal truth. Why do I say that? Again, many
today are trying to convince it never happened. And if that’s
true, then we are in a heap of trouble.

One young lady wrote these reasons for not believing in the virgin birth.....There
is no reliable evidence. We have no
eyewitness accounts, no doctor confirmations, no DNA samples. The
earliest references are late and sparse. It seems likely
the virgin birth was created to boost the authority of Christianity through
prophecy and compete with rival gods who were born of virgins. It’s
the same old myth. The claims of
Jesus’ birth are no different from any of the other virgin birth legends. It
doesn’t have any more evidence or appear to be any more likely. Why believe it
over the others? Is it
more likely to be a lie, or to be true? Now what is
more likely, that she is lying or telling the truth? Even if Mary claimed this
herself, we would not believe her. Now consider that the story didn’t appear
until over 50 years after it supposedly happened. The likelihood of the virgin
birth being true is very, very, very low. We
would never, ever, believe this today. Imagine if a
teenage girl in your neighborhood claimed that her pregnancy was due to God
impregnating her and that she was still a virgin. Would you believe her? Or
would you think she was lying? If she insisted on it being true, we would put
her in a mental hospital. Sadly like this
person, many continue to try and rationalize everything to fit their world view
or how they see things! But as the
bible says “it is foolishness to those
who perish” and we also know according to the scriptures“The fool says in
his heart there is no God” But the other
side to disbelief, is wrong worship! Some even try
to make the virgin birth as a means to worship Mary herself, above Jesus the
God man. John MacArthur
wrote this “A long tradition of overzealous souls throughout history have
wrongly exalted her to godlike status. Unfortunately, even in our era, Mary,
not Christ, is the central focus of worship and religious affection for
millions. They think of her as more approachable and more sympathetic than Christ.
They revere her as the perfect Madonna, supposedly untouched by original sin, a
perpetual virgin, and even co-redemptrix with Christ Himself.” John goes on to
say “Catholic dogma teaches that she was taken bodily to heaven, where she was
crowned “Queen of Heaven.” Her role today, according to Catholic legend, is
mediatory and intercessory. Therefore, multitudes direct their prayers to her
instead of to God alone—as if Mary were omnipresent and omniscient.” So I ask you
the question again! What does the virgin birth mean to you?Why is the doctrine
of the virgin birth so important to the Christian church? The world
doesn’t want to believe this supernatural work found in the virgin birth. But! This has
been His promise since the very beginning of time, when Adam and Eve sinned in
the garden. This has been our.....

Blessed hope to
future things with Him in Heaven.

Peace and rest
in a holy God.

Restoration and
reconciliation with a wrathful and just God.

Joy of
salvation found in Christ alone. (Sola Christus)

We need to see this
importance and realize how important the birth of Christ is, as we come into
this Christmas season once again. Please
turn with me to Luke chapter 1 as we get front row seats to this wonderful historical
account of the virgin birth!

BLESSED
IS THE WOMAN THAT CARES THE LORD AND SAVIOUR (V42)

"Blessed are you among women"a woman chosen
by God. In the Hebrew this statement means "You're
the most blessed of all woman" In Luke 1:28 “And
having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the
Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" The angel said "highly favored
one"which literally means “full
of grace” This is the
same meaning for anyone that calls upon the name Jesus and believes by faith. Paul said
according to his writings that we are favored, make accepted by the Lord, full
of grace. In Eph 1:6 we read the same expression for the believer “to the
praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

We are
accepted.” Elizabeth was
telling Mary that she was most blessed because she was going to give birth to
the greatest child ever to walk this earth. Mary was so
blessed that people would make comments when they were in Jesus' presence……..In Luke 11:27 “And
it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd
raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and
the breasts which nursed You!" No doubt about
it! Mary was an extremely blessed woman, but she was not
a woman to be worshipped by mankind or to elevate above Jesus and His Incarnate
Deity. She was sinner
just like us, who needed a Saviour. (v47)

BLESSED
IS THE CHILD THAT COMES TO REDEEM THE WORLD (V42)

"Blessed is the fruit of your
womb" Why is this
Child blessed? He is blessed
because He comes to save people from their sins. He is blessed
because He has come to free us from the bondage of sin. He is blessed
because He has come to be LORD of our lives! Mary understood
this blessing that Elizabeth was speaking in the Holy Spirit (v41-v42) Why do I say
that? Mary speaks of this supernatural blessing she has growing inside of her though praises to God. "My soul
magnifies the Lord” (v46)….. My soul is saturated
with the Lord. "My spirit
has rejoiced in God my Savior" (v47)…… This
is showing her need for a Savior. Mary also goes
on to express her love to a holy God by saying……….

He is Love “regarded
the lowly...” ( me a maidservant) (v48). He is Mighty "has done great things for me" (v49)

He is Holy "holy
is His name" (v49)

He is Mercy "to
those who fear Him" (v50)

He is Sovereign
"strength with His arm" (v51)

He is Righteous
Judge "He has scattered... He has put down... He has exalted the
lowly" (v52)

He is Provider "filled
the hungry with good things" (v53)

He is the
Finisher of our Salvation "He has helped His servant Israel... " (v54)

This Child is
truly blessed, so blessed; Zechariah prophesied about Him "Blessed
is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people" (v68). And Zechariah
goes on to say that his son John will go before this great Lord and Savior! In Luke 1:76-79
we read "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For
you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge
of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender
mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give
light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet
into the way of peace." See, without this virgin birth, without Him coming in the
form of man….the sin issue is not resolved and we are still damned to hell! As Oswald
Chambers said “Jesus Christ became Incarnate for one purpose, to make a way
back to God that man might stand before Him as He was created to do, the friend
and lover of God Himself.”

BLESSED
ARE THE ONES WHO BELIEVES BY FAITH (V45)

This is an
important truth that overflows with blessing! Elizabeth was
praising God by faith. Mary was
parsing God by faith. Zechariah was
praising God by faith, even John the
Baptist was praising God by faith "The baby leaped in my womb for joy" Think
about!
How do we have that kind of faith and joy as John had in the womb of Elizabeth? By what Paul
wrote to the church! In 2Cor 4:6 we read “For
it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in
our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ.” He has put His
knowledge and glory of Himself in our hearts through the gospel. He has given us
His promise and assurance of His great salvation through His son, Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter
says the faith that we have is the faith of love……“whom having not seen you
love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy
inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation
of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9. The English
Standard Version says "Though you
have not seen him, you love him". The King James
Version says "Whom having not seen, ye love". Our faith is a
faith in a person who we cannot see, smell or touch, but He lives inside of us
through the Holy Spirit. I must trust in
the scriptures when it speaks about the supernatural work found in the virgin
birth. For by faith [a
faith that God gives us, as a gift] we are saved! Because we believe the
scriptures.

This virgin
birth is so much more than a miracle………………it about our [your] redemption! For without this
virgin birth……………. I am doomed and so are you! Faith is a must,
in order to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who came as a baby born of virgin
young girl…..a faith that He gives us. As Paul wrote “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one
should boast. Eph 2:8–9. See! Faith is
simply breathing the breath that God’s grace supplies to each one who believes through the gospel
that saves. That's why John
leaped in the womb! Redemption is
here to save sinners. Prophecy has
been fulfilled as the prophets foretold. The Seed has finally
come to crush Satan and his fallen angels once and for all. Immanuel (God
is with Us) has finally come to deliver Us! As Simeon “took
him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now you are letting
your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen
your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light
for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." And
his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his
mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many
in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your
own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." Luke
2:28-35. As Simeon
praises God for this selfless gift! Never forget
this wonderful truth of the virgin birth and always be ready to give an account
for the hope that is in your heart this Christmas season.

THE VIRGIN
BIRTH IS ESSENTIAL TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

If this
revelation is rejected, then any other Biblical fact may be rejected.

If the virgin
birth is rejected, the deity or humanity (or both) of the Savior must also be
discarded.

If the virgin
birth is not true there is no valid salvation.

If the virgin
birth is not fact, then the doctrine of the incarnation, as revealed in
scripture, cannot be accepted.

If the virgin
birth is not valid, man is without hope in time and eternity.

If the virgin
birth is error, other doctrines lose meaning and purpose.

So rejoice,
because we know through the scripture how important and real the virgin birth
was! Christmas is a
blessed time for family of God! So are you leaping
for Joy this morning? Is your spirit
rejoicing in the promise found in Christ alone this morning? Does your soul
magnify the Lord this morning? Are you praising
Him for finding favour in you? Are you
thankful for that wonderful Christmas gift? That gift is? Salvation
in the one true King……………….Jesus Christ.I love what
John MacArthur says about the Christmas baby "If we could condense all the
truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: "God with
us." .

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"Radical obediance to Christ is not easy; it is dangerous. It is not smooth sailing aboard a luxury liner; it is sacrificial duty aboard a troop carrier. It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obediance to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. and He is more than enough for us." David Platt

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2 Timothy 2:8-14"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us toa holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.Follow the pattern of the soundwords that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you."ESV

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John MacArthur says . . . " There seems almost no limit to what modern church leaders will do to entice people who aren't interested in worship and preaching. Too many have bought the notion that the church must win people by offering an alternative form of entertainment. Just how far will the church go in competing with Hollywood? A large church in the southwestern United States has installed a half-million dollar special-effects system that can produce smoke, fire, sparks, and laser lights in the auditorium. The church sent staff members to study live special effects at Bally's Casino in Las Vegas. The pastor ended one service by ascending to "heaven" via invisible wires that drew him up out of sight while the choir and orchestra added a musical accompaniment to the smoke, fire, and light show. It was just a typical Sunday show for that pastor: "He packs his church with such special effects as ... cranking up a chain saw and toppling a tree to make a point ... the biggest Fourth of July fireworks display in town and a Christmas service with a rented elephant, kangaroo and zebra. The Christmas show features 100 clowns with gifts for the congregation's children."Shenanigans like that would have been the stuff of Spurgeon's worst nightmares. And even Tozer could not have foreseen the extreme to which evangelicals would go in paying homage to the great god Entertainment. "

What does it mean to live a cross centered life?by Pastor Mike AndrewsWe as Christians know that there is only one road to take. The Bible say's "wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it" (Matt 7:13). Why is there so many people who profess Jesus Christ taking this road? (Phil 3:19) "Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things". The Bible say's the wide road leads to destruction. Which means eternally separated from a HOLY and Sovereign GOD. There is ony one road for GENUINE Christian. And it's the narrow road. A life that is: 1) Self denial2) Caring your cross daily3) Desiring the things of God4) Hating the things that God hates5) Submission and obedience6) Holy living7) Expects any kind of persecution.(Mat 10:22) and you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved(1 John 3:13) Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.A.W. Tozer says "The true follower of Christ will not ask, "If I embrace this truth, what will it cost me?" Rather he will say, "This is truth. God help me to walk in it, let come what may!" (1Pet 4:16-17) Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?We must stand strong in the Gospel of Christ. Holding to His promise of eternal life.
1. A Cross Centered life never is ashamed of His Gospel, for which He suffers,
2. A Cross Centered Life is never ashamed of the name he bears (Christian)
3. Nor of the punishment he endures, but let US, as OUR Lord and Master did, endure the cross.

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." John Piper"Alan Redpathhad two daughters who loved to swarm him when he came home at night. As he came in the door one evening, his little girls ran to meet him. One grabbed his leg and hugged him with all her might. He snatched the other daughter up in his arms. The one squeezing his leg said, "Now, I've got all of Daddy." The daughter in his arms replied, "Yes, but Daddy has got all of me!" Perhaps the question we need to continually ask is, "Does God have all of me?" Alan Redpath

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Welcome Message

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE") Gal 3:13. That's why as the great puritan once said "I preach as a dying man,to dying men. Richard Baxter...."